As Universities from across the UK make the journey to the River Tyne for BUCS Head, they have only one option to race openweight coxless fours, as there is no intermediate option offered by BUCS. This event is populated largely by those at the top of the mountain in University Rowing, with all three attending high performance programs having representation along with those occupying the top of the next rung down on the ladder, looking to break in.
Durham University
Defending the Championship they won on this course twelve months ago, Durham University come into this full of confidence. Seven male athletes having represented the palatinate club in Boston last weekend at GB Trials, they come with a squad that has put up good performances throughout the winter, winning this event in the Tyne New Year’s Head as well as placing second at the Rutherford Head. Last year they appeared to prioritise BUCS Head over the Tideway Heads, it will be interesting to see if Rob Dauncey and his coaching team change things up this year.
University of Edinburgh
Opening their 2023 campaign, Edinburgh University have a limited set of results against English competition after cleaning up fairly comfortably against the best that Scotland had to offer at Inverness Fours Head. Their one trip south of the border, on the Tyne at Rutherford Head, did not go to plan. The December race ended with after a seemingly good performance ending in disqualification, presumably due to substitution issues. The remainder of their squad did quite well, being close to Durham in both the coxed four and the eight, but well behind the University of London who are opting to stay away from BUCS Head again this year.
Newcastle University
Newcastle University, on their home water are the only institution to enter two boats into the event and will be looking to compete against the other members in the trinity of Northern high-performance programs. Angelo Savarino has been very selective about the races the crew have raced in this year as the men have only raced at Rutherford Head. Not letting this lack of opportunity limit their successes, their first crew won the coxless four on this stretch in December and will be looking to repeat these successes on their home stretch, the second crew will be looking to put themselves in the mix with some of the top crews they will be racing and flying the flag for the blue star.
University of Nottingham
Making the A-Final in this event on their home water in last Spring’s BUCS Regatta and placing fourth in the Head race twelve months ago, Nottingham may not have the funding and support of the high-performance programs listed above but they won’t let that stop their ambition and aims. Entering eight of the ten championship events across Saturday, new head coach Adrian Roberts is not taking the foot off the gas in the Green and Gold squad’s acceleration back up the pecking order. Much of their success in the past twelve months has been in sculling boats, including second academic quad at Fours’ Head and medalling in intermediate quads at BUCS regatta. It will be interesting to see how well they can translate this success into sweeping results
Imperial College London
After a disappointing 2022, Imperial College London will be looking to bounce back at the first national event of the New Year. A slimmer entry this year with only one boat versus the five Imperial entries in this event last year. This season has been promising, with good results at both British Rowing Trials as well as Quintin Head and while there was more success at Fours’ Head in coxed boats rather than the coxless, they still indicate a base speed that will help them in the rough waters that often plague the Tyne.
Loughborough University
A more left field entry in the Championship ranks, Loughborough have been bold with their entries this year as they have entered both championship quads as well as the men’s coxless four. They produced a strong group of beginners last year and their success in this category may come down to how well the traditionally strong sporting university copes with the oldest university sport of them all.
Prediction
With their historic focus on this event and it being on their home water, I struggle to look past Durham repeating their 2022 victory. Newcastle with their depth in the event and success at Rutherford Head will be looking to give their local rivals a hard time of it. While I would expect Edinburgh to finish off an all high-performance podium.
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